Inking-machine for type-writer ribbons.



F. EKKOENEKE- INKING MACHINE FOR TYPE WRITER 11113150115.

ARP'LIOATIGN FILED MAR.8, 1906.

Patented Oct. 13,1908.

3 SHEETS-sHSET 1.

um/k 5. Mg.

witnesses E. KOENEKE. HIKING MACHINE FOR TYPE WRITER RIBBONS. AP'PLIOAT'IOIi' FILED MAB. 8, 1906.

3 Patented ct. 13,1908.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

witness I attowwv v F. E. KOENEKE. INKING MACHINE FOR TYPE WRITER RIBBONS.

' APPLICATION FILED unis, 1906.

900,936 Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

Y Be it known that L'FRANK 15.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKE. KOENEKE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO SELMA KOENEKE, OF

MlLW AU'KEE, WISCONSIN. i

INKING-MAGHINE FOR TYPE-WRITER RIBBONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

ikpplication and March a, 1906. Serial No. 304,870.

To all whom 'it may concern: I

KoEN'EKE, of Milwaukee, lVisconsin, have invented an Inking-Machine for Type-Writer Ribbons, of

which the following 1s a specification. QThis invention relates to a mechanism for I applying tostrips of fabric or ribbon an ink chines.

"bons manufactured own-use. v p

The principal features of my machine cone fabric or ribbon which is to be inked, an inkthe ribbon as fast as it issue's-from the rolls I compositionforthe purpose of manufacturing the ink-ribbons of type-writer machines. It. has for its main objects'to providea simple and inexpensive machine which shall perform the functions of thoroughly incorporatlng the inkinto the fibers of the ribbon,

applying just enough and no more, and reelmg it automatically upon. a spool to the proper length for one ribbon; and to perform these functions more perfectly and with less.

mechanism than heretofore existing ma I particularly desi n to make a machine so light, compact, simp eand low in-cost that it.

can. be profitably purchased by regular busi-j ness houses using typewriters, and the ribby themselves for their sist m a reel for containing the blank'stri of well containing a roller which is adapted, in

contradistinction to any previously existing machine, to apply ink in excess to .only'a fraction of the total wid th'of theribbon, and a set of rubbing and distributing rolls which perform the function ofdistributing said ink over the total width of the ribbon, and thoroughly incorporating it therewith; together with a reeling. mechanism. adapted to take up and wind it upona spoolifor use.

Other subsidiary features are also in-i volved which will be best understood from the following specification and claims.

In the. accompanying-drawings I [have illustrated two embodiments of' my invention,-an'd herein Figure 1 1s a frontelevatlon of the machine, Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, showing the upper'bearing-block lifted off on one side and apart of the other side broken away;'Fig. '3is a longitudinal vertisame, the ink-roll being shown in elevation;

has partly passed through the machine, to

illustrate the distribution of the ink thereon; Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show also different forms of ink-roll which may be used. Fig. MS a longitudinal vertical median section of another .construction of the machine with some improvements not shown in the other form; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary transverse section therethrough on the line 10; Fig. 11 is a plan view of the ink-well used with this form of machine; and Fig. 12 is a transverse median section therethrough on the-line 10 of Fig. 9. In these drawings every reference character refers always to the same part. v

. The apparatus, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8, comprises a pair of side frames consisting of upri ht plates 11 having bolting-ears 11" at the ottom and flanges 12 along the upper edge, a' pair of lower bearing-blocks 13 so earing-blocks and secured thereto carry se t screws 19, the purpose of which will be designated further on. The flanges 12 and bearing-blocks ashore shown are set on an incline, but this is immaterial to my purpose. Upon these frames and, generally speaking, between them are mounted all the "operative mechanisms and devices connected therewith. The frames are joined together by three shoulder-bolts 20 passing through holes thcrcin'aiid secured by nuts 21 on each end; and a fourth bolt 22 at the lower lefthand corner which'is the equivalent of one of the bolts 20 except that it carries a sleeve 23 takin the place of the shoulder, to permit said olt being withdrawn from the frame separately in order to enablethe ink-we'll to here-moved and inserted.

I On the frame-plates 11 near the center is mounted anarbor 24, and on this arbor is mounted, and fixed to it n'oni'otatably, a

spool 25, which in operation carries a roll of t e ribbon or fabric 26 which is to be inked.

. The arbor 24 extendsbeyond the frame-plate at the rearand carries a'cran'k 27 and having a handle 27*? for'the purpose of rotating the.

spool in order to wind ribbon .thereon, the

. spool being provided with any roper device of the disks. It will be observed that the for connecting the end of the ri bon with the a covering 36 of hub thereof, and as such devices are well known to the art, it has not been thought necessary to illustrate one herein.

The bearing-blocks 13 and 15 have cylindrical sockets in which are mounted a pair of 8 rolls 28 and 29 whose axles 3() and 31 are geared together by means of spur-gears 32 and 33, these gearsbeing of the same size,

and to one of the axles is applied means for" rotating the same; for example, a crank 34 keyed to the axle 30 and having a handle 35. The rolls 28 and 29 are of different diameter, the roll 28 being the larger and provided with roper material to act in conjunction with t e surface of the roll 29 to rub the ink into the pores of the fabric, and I have found vulcanized rubber to be the most suitable for this urpose. It will be observed that the two re s, owing to the gear connection, rotate at the same angular velocity, and as the roll 28 is larger than the roll 29, it will have a greater eripheral speed, thus bringabout a erential s eed, producing a in 'ruibing action between t e tworolls. The

roll 29 is pressed resiliently against the roll 28 by its mountings, which comprisea pair of bearing blocks 36 sliding in recesses 38 in the blocks 13 and 15, compressed coiled-springs 39 mounted in tubular recesses in the bearing-blocks, as shown; an abutment-block 40 for each spring, mounted in the same recess; and the set-screws ,19, which press against their respective blocks and form means for. adjusting the spring-pressure.

The inking meanscomprises an ink-well 41" which is completely covered and inclosed except for an o ening 42 in the center of the top, through w ich prejects" anink-roll 43 mounted on anaxle 44 which is journaled in a pair of saddles 45 on each side of the Well, whichmay be fixed in place by means of solder or otherwise. The width of this roll is only a small fraction of the peripheral width of the ribbon; for example, with a ribbon one and one-half inches in width, the peripheral width of'theroll 43 would be onesixteenthto one-eighth of an inch, depending on the character of the ink, which is designated 46 in Fig. 3. It is sufficient for ordinary purposes to use a simple roll, designated 43 in Fig. 5, which is of fixedand permanent Width; this roll being ad'usted to the properwidth for a given kind 0 ink and width of ribbon and being changed to one of a different width when these conditions are altered. In Figs. 6 and 7 however, the roll is made of adjustable peripheral width, the axle 44 being provided with a flange 47 and a screw-thread 48 engaged by a nut 49 between which fiange and n'utaregripped a plurality of thin disks 50, the number of which may be adjusted as desired. Clamp e ing'w'a'shers 51 maybe inserted on each si upper surface of the ink-well is preferably given a certain convexity and there may be raised flanges 52 at the sides to hold up the sides of the ribbon and kee the inked center from touching the top of t e well.

To the front frame 11 are bolted a pair of bracketarms or bars 53, 54, which carry the winding spool A and a spring motor for operating it. The bars 53 and 54 are secured by means of screws 55 having nuts 56 and sleeves 57 whereby the front bar 53 is held at a distance from the face of the frameplate. The motor here shown comprises a main arbor 58 journaled in the bars 53 and 54, and having loosely mounted thereon a gear-wheel 59 and a sleeve 60 which carries a pinion 61. The )inion 61 is operatively connected with and driven by the wheel 59 through a lantern pinion 69 and gear 70, both mounted on a countershaft 68 and meshing with the gear 59 and pinion 61 respectively'; and the gear 59 is itself driven by a spiral spring 90 secured at its inner end to the arbor 58 and at its outer end to a pin 91 on the side of the gear 59. The arbor 58 also has fixed thereto on the front side of the bar 53 a ratchet-wheel 62 and a crank 63 having a handle 64, and with the teeth of said wheel 62 coiiperates a pawl 65 pivoted on a screw 66 and having a pin 67 extending laterall from it, by which the body 65 is gras e when it is desired to release and unwin the spring 90. The delivery-spool A, which receives the finished ribbon, is set on the sleeve 60 by friction merely, so that it can be-readily pulled off and replaced by a new one, it being understood that the turnin moment on the sleeve is ver Y light and on sufficient to take up the siack of the rib on as it comes from the machine.

In order that the motor may be checked and held stationary'while a spool is being removed and a new one put in place, I provide a pawl 71 pivoted on one of the distancesleeves 57 and having a tooth 71 which enga es between the teeth of the gear 59 to he (1 the same against turning. A pin 71" is attached to the pawl, by which it may be turned into thisposition or removed therefrom. When it isdesired to remove a filled spool and put a new one in place, the pawl .71 is turned into the position shown in the 11 which combine in one piece the parts 11,

13; 15 and 17 of the previous form. The bolts 20 and 22, sleeve 23, arbor 24-, spool 25, and rolls 28 and 29 are identical with those already "described, the roll 28, however,

being mounted directly in a bearing-hole in 7 4 at the edges of said aperture. This block is kept pressed toward the roll 28 by means of a spring 39 located in a tubular bore 75,

and which abuts on one end upon the block and on the other .end;upon-the end of a set? screw 19 which engages. and threads into the end of the bore 75- and is provided with'a cylindrical end 7 fitextending into the unthreaded portionthereof.v

around theibolts 20 and 22, there is herein rovided a form of ink-well 41 which extends between the bolts 20 and 22' and carries a pair of rollers 77, 78 over which the ribbon passes, theserollers being located on op osite sides of the ink roller- 43", which latter is here simply a thin 'disk frictionally pressed upon the shaft 44*"turning in stirru s 45,

and said disk may bereadlly remove from the shaft. The rollers 77, 78 are each provided with flanges 79 at their ends, the distance between the flanges being'the exact width of the ribbon, whereby the ribbon is maintained truly central in'passing over the ink-roller 43". The rollers 77 and 78 are carried on shafts '80 which are mounted in channel-shaped strips 81,; 82 secured, to the upper side ofthe inkwell. The strip 82 on the delivery side of-,the-inkroller is differently formed from the'strip 81 in that it has a lateral extension 83 turned upright to form a wiping-edge, which is of ust the proper height to touch the ,undersi e of the ribbon" as it asses and scrape off any excess of, ink

therefrom, the ink so removed falling back into the well through the central opening 42. Moreover, I provide the edges of this opening with .downturnedflanges '84 which (llp below the normaltlevel of inkin the well and prevent the same from being spilled by any sudden movement, as well as from eva orating unnecessarily. 'At the end of t e well are der the of the ribbon, which serve to better carry it to turn in a right-handed direction, this being, however, mmaterial. The operation of the apparatushas been sufiiciently hereinabove explained, and will rovided clips 85 which engage up bolts 20 and 22 to hold the well" against the upward tension u on the ribbon.- In this form of machine I a so provide the upper pair of bolts-20 with roller-sleeves 86 having flanges 87 set distanced at the width,

I type. In this manner I may also make multiple color ribbons by distributing different colored streaks of'ink either simultaneously or successively along 'the diilerentpoints in the width of the ribbon, and subsequently spreading themby the same set of rolls 28 and 29, and two or more narrow ink-wells containi In place of passinggthe-ribbOn \to be inked the" different colors of ink can be placedzsi e by side for this purpose.

I do not wish it understood that my inven tion is limited to the use of all the above described features and constructions for some may be omitted and others may be varied or modified in various ways, as will readily occur to those skilled in the art. I recognize'the fact, for example, that-the streak of 'ink 88 distributed upon the ribbon need not be continuous, but may form a series of sepa rate dabs, as would be done by a notched roller.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: p

1. The recess of inking typewriter-rib -bons whic consistsin providing a narrow strip of the Width of the ribbon with an excess of ink and thereafter passing the strip between a, pair of rolls turning at different peripheral speeds, whereby such ink is dis tributed evenly over the width of the ribbon. 2. In a ribbon-inking machine, the voombination of an ink-roller narrower than the ribbon, means fordelivering ink to the pe riphery thereof, means for. passing the ribbon over said roller, and a air of distributingrollers through which tie ribbon is subsequently made to pass and by which the ink is distributed over the width of the ribbon.

- '--3,'-In a ribbon-inking machine, the combination of an ink-roller narrower than the ribbon,. means fordelivering ink to the pe ripherythereof, means for passing the ribbon over said roller, and a pair. of distributingrollers through which the ribbon is subseuently made to pass and by which the ink is distributed over the width of the ribbon, said rollers being caused to move at different pc- 7 ripheral speeds. over the bolts and-lto maintain it central.v In this form also the deliveryvspool A, is made 4. In an inking-machine, the combination 'of a pair efrolls one of whichhas -a yielding surface, means for resiliently pressing said rolls together, and means for turning said rolls at difi'erent peripheral speeds.

5. In a ribbon-inking machine, the combination'of a pair of rolls, sliding-pieces in which one of said rolls'is journale'd, compression springs acting upon said slidingroll.

pieces to press the roll mounted therein riphery of said roll, means for passing a ribbon over said roll whereby a portion thereof becomes coated with an excess of ink, and a pair of distributing rolls through which the ribbon subsequently passes and by which the ink is distributed over the width of the ribbon, in combination with means for resiliently taking up and winding the ribbon delivered from said rolls.

7. In a ribbon-inking machine, the combination of an inkwell, an ink-roller rotating partly immersed therein and having a width narrower than the ribbon to be inked, means for passing the ribbon over said roller, and a pairof distributin rolls through which the ribbon subsequent y passes, one of said rolls having a yielding surface and turning at a different peripheral speed from the other 8. In a ribbon-inking machine, the combination-of an inkwell, an ink-roller rotating partly immersed therein and having a width narrower than. the ribbon to be inked, means for passing the ribbon over said roller, a pair of distributing rolls through which the ribbon subse uently passes, and means for winding the rib on as it comes from said rolls at a substantially constant tension.

9. In a ribbon-inking machine, the combination of a pair of side-frames, bolts securing them together in parallel relation, a spool rotatably mounted between said frames, means for turning said spool to wind ribbon thereon, an ink-well located below said spool,

I a roller turning in said ink-well, means for passing the ribbon over said roller, distributlng-rolls mounted between said frames above said spool, means for turning said distributing rolls, and means for rotating a deliveryspool upon which the finished ribbon is reeled. 1

10. In a ribbon-inking machine, the combination of a pair of side-frames, means for securing said frames in parallel relation, a pair of rolls between said frames and one of which has a yielding surface, a pair of journalblocks in which one ofv said rolls is mounted, said blocks sliding in said frames,a pair of springs operating to press the respective blocks toward the other roll, and a pair of set-screws operating upon the respective springs to adjust the tension thereof.

11. In a ribbon-inking machine, the combination with inking-mechanism of an arbor, a sleeve mounted on said arbor and carrying a gear, a second gear mounted independently on said arbor, a spring operating to rotate said second gear, and gearing connecting said second gear with the first whereby said sleeve. 1s rotated; sald sleeve being arranged to receive and frictionally hold the nave of a delivery-spool.

12. In a ribbon-inking machine, the combination with inking-mechanism of an arbor, a sleeve mounted on said arbor and carrying a gear, asecond gear mounted independently on said arbor, a spring operating to rotate said second gear, and gearing connecting said second gear with the first whereby said sleeve is rotated; said sleeve being arranged to receive and frictionally hold the nave of a delivery-spool, and a pawl ada ted to engage the teeth of one of the gears w iereby the ten 3 sion is removed from said sleeve,

13. In a ribbon-inking machine, an inkingdevice comprising a vessel adapted to contain ink, aid vessel having an opening in the center an depending flanges at either side of said openin said flanges dipping below the normal love of the ink in said vessel, and an ink-roller mounted to rotate in said opening.

14. In a ribbon-inking machine, an inkingdevice comprising a vessel adapted to contain ink, said vessel having an opening in the center and depending flanges at either side of said 0 ening, said flanges dipping below the norma level of the ink in said vessel, an ink-roller mounted to rotate in said opening, and a pair of guide rollers mounted on opposite sides of said ink-roller.

15. In a ribbon-inking machine, an inkingdevice comprising a vessel adapted to contain ink, said vessel having amopening in the center and depending flanges at either side of said opening, said flanges dipping below the normal level of the ink in said vessel, an ink-roller mounted to rotate in said opening, a pair of guide-rollers mounted on opposite sides of said ink-roller, and a wiping-edge projecting into proximity to the ribbon on the delivery side of said opening whereby excess of ink is removed from the ribbon and caused to return to the well.

16. In a ribbon-inking machine, an inkingdevice comprising a vessel adapted to contain ink, said vessel having a central opening and flanges on either side of said opening depending below the normal level of ink in said vessel, a shaft mounted to rotate in said vessel between said flanges, a narrow inkingdisk mounted on said shaft and dipping in the ink in said vessel, a pair of flanged guiderollers located on op osito sides of said opening and having a ength distanced much greater than the width of said disk, and an upright wiping-edge on one side of said opening projecting into proximity to a ribbon which passes over said ink-roller and under a guide-roller.

17. A ribbon-inking machine comprising, in combination, a pair of frame plates, a pluralitv of distance bolts securing them in parallel relation, an arbor mounted between said plates in the ap'proximate center thereof, means for rotating said arbor, a reelingspool carried on said arbor, an ink-well below said arbor and carrying a narrow ink- 2 roller, a pair of distributing rolls journaled between said plates above said reelingspool,

Y means for rotating said distributing-rolls, a

tance-bolts; the ribbon being caused to pass from said reeling-spool successively over said ink-roller, between said distributing-rolls and upon said deliveryspool and being 15 guided in its passage by said flange rollers.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day ofMarch, 1906. FRANK E. KOENEKE. In presence of CARROLL W. SMITH, MABEL E. WILSON 

